Well, this is something. I forget I liked writing so much because I'm an idiot and forget to save. A lot. But, now I'm back. I played about 70 hours of Pokemon Platinum and I decided to write a fanfiction on it. Seriously, this whole idea comes from a guy named MetalDargon and his story, Sacrifice and Subjugation.
If you enjoy, leave a review!
I was born in the year 2049 and was raised in one of the more wealthy families of Floaroma Town. If there was a Wealthy Family. My family was like normal, I guess. My father, Joseph Lorano, was a successful business man. He was the Owner of a Berry and Apricorn farm, Lorano Fruits, a family business to be honest. I was raised to understand that we were to provide the means to battle, not to fight myself. Still, as a kid, the beasts of battle were everything in this world. True, I knew nothing of the world, but I did know what fame and prestige was. And it came at being the best at what you love.
I hated farming. Despised it with a passion. But the farming did offer an opportunity to learn more about Pokemon and what they prefer. I learned much while we watered, weeded, and cared for the plants day after day. It helped to have a father who didn't truly understand what they said meant for others. He told me which berries were the best to eat, which Pokemon would eat which berry, and much about which Apricorns made what.
It was surprising what a few hard Apricorns would do. After all, they are what we contain Pokemon within. They grew in different colors and shape. The different breeds worked better than others, while some were useless. He also told me that, with his help, he saved countless lives and, at the same time, claimed many. Still, he didn't talk about trainers much. He had no desires for his only young son to fall to a beast he believed to be a loyal and friendly pet.
While it was true that Joseph Lorano was once a famous Pokemon trainer, only losing twice in his gym battles, he'd lost two of his own Pokemon as well as suffered from a lost kidney. His scars held many stories of the dangers he'd faced. Instead, now he provides the means to catch more and assist in the care of trainers' partners. He loved the feral animals, tamed by us to do battle, and did what he could to help them all. So he said, at least.
It was my dream of becoming the best in town, to defeat every trainer here with my partners. It wasn't too difficult as the best most people had was a few bug or grass Pokemon. The fields around Floaroma only held a few Budew and Buizel. There were some Gastrodon in the river, as well as a few Magikarp and Goldeen, but the Fergus Ironworks usually drove the surrounding Pokemon away.
Sure, it was nice to have a few pretty flowers and berries galore, but there was no pleasure, no thrill. It was all I wanted, to find a Pokemon who wanted to be my partner. Together, this Pokemon and I would travel the whole region and beat every single gym. And then, I'd face the Champion and... and... I couldn't imagine that far. But I knew people from around the world will know me. I could just see it.
My family owned a few pets, loyal and true ones. We usually kept one or two out at a time, mainly out of concern for my father. He'd panic and get scared if too many Pokemon were around him, even his own. Most of the time is was our Herdier, a happy and playful dog. He was naturally loyal as he was raised from the egg. He wasn't one to fight, but he was a great pet to play with me, a small child. I'd met him as a Lillipup when I was eight and he was the first Pokemon I was allowed to be near without my parents.
Other than that, we had a Beautifly to help pollinate the berries in the spring. My mother's Staravia from her time as a trainer helped harvest berries in the summer and fall, and her Buizel helped with watering as well. Other than that, the Pokemon that helped us belonged to other trainers and hired workers. They were all nice to me, a kid, and sometimes talked to me. They gave me tips and tricks to become a trainer like them. If only my father knew what they said...
It was in my personal studies over the years that, over two hundred years ago, kids began their journey at the age of twelve, sometimes given a Pokemon by professors and parents for birthdays. It was almost unheard of today, a child going out with a Pokemon at the age of twelve. Pokemon were dangerous creatures, after all.
Still, with the advance of Civilization and Technology, the Pokemon of the land adapted to us, learning to better defend their homes and habitats, slowing down the expansion of industry. At the same time, there were Pokemon like Herdier that lived among us on a daily basis, being docile and tame. Though there were some, not many could be found in the wild as hostile and menacing as others.
There were some, like the Fire and the Dragon Pokemon, that caused much trouble for humans. There were some that burned down entire cities and ravaged villages, but the trainers that caught one was bound for power. Still, if you did not satisfy one with battle or destruction, it was most likely to return to the wild, more powerful than ever. It was these that were most difficult to train. Proof of what could happen was already on Mt. Coronet, where a mighty Haxorus lived at the peak.
As a result of their adapting to our technology, Pokemon have grown stronger and more ferocious. Even a ridiculous Bidoof... Well, maybe not. Better example of Shinx could easily become intimidating and powerful, using it's electric bite to kill a man with a single chomp. Many packs of Shinx, Luxio, and the leader Luxray roamed around the edges of Oreburg and Hearthhome.
With Pokemon stronger than before, schools began teaching basic Pokemon recognition, Poke Biology, and survival studies. They also taught how to handle Pokemon in a relation. Simple kindness, care, ect. Even how to throw a Poke Ball with accuracy. I mostly paid attention to these parts of class, hardly interested in becoming a business man. I just knew I loved Pokemon and the fame that came with it.
Despite my father's issues and my mother's fear, I still wanted to be a trainer. Perhaps it was the boring nature of the town, maybe it was me simply seeking thrill. All I knew was Pokemon and the power they possessed awed all who saw it. Even Magikarp, the most ridiculous fish ever, could become a mighty serpentine Garados to vaporize it's foes with draconic power. Still it was a mystery why it was not classified as a Dragon.
With the evolution of technology, this brought about advances in medicine and Pokemon Tools. The PokeDex was one of the best tools a Trainer could buy, as it did the recognition of a Pokemon for you, using a laser-guided scanner to read the Pokemon biology and give an accurate report of 99.72%. Of course, it could also be used to call, send emails, and use the internet as well. Some trainers even downloaded music or games to their Dex for the road.
Of course, since the increase of wild Pokemon strength, a test to see if you're adept enough to travel the wilderness of Sinnoh, held monthly in Jubilife city. It required a trainer to present their own caught Pokemon, as well as a certain level of control over them. Then there was a written test and a small wilderness survival studies exam. After that, you were given a license of a certified trainer. With that, you could get many benefits, such as free healthcare and housing at any Pokemon Center two days a week.
Only problem was the Pokemon. Even though I had the resources to make a whole stack of Poke balls surrounding the house, I had no expertise in preparing Apricorns or the technology to make the actual Poke ball work. They were simply sent to another company to be prepared and we were paid. Nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, if I asked my parents to give me a Poke ball, they'd probably disown me. Maybe. If I said I wanted it to get my own pet, the most likely response would be, 'We have plenty of pets. Besides, you know your Father has issues around the scary Pokemon you like.' My father would definitely hate a Litwick or Ghastly, but where would a kid find one around here?
Though I didn't know how I would get a means of capturing a Pokemon, I knew how to find one. That wasn't too difficult. Going outside, you could easily see flocks of Pidove or Pidgey overhead. Wild Wurple, Caterpie, and Weedle could easily be found in the forest to the north. A few kids liked to catch Pachirisu, who would throw Seedot and Lum Berries are travelers who pass too close. Seriously, when a Pachirisu throws a Seedot the size of your hand, it's bound to hurt. Naughty or nice, people still made good use of their Electrical attacks.
In school, I was never in the top of my class due to my grades being less than desirable. I only passed in few certain classes, most of them related to Pokemon and Trainer skills. Still, based on those classes and skills, I was able to pass every year. I spent a lot of my spare time reading up on Pokemon and their strengths and weakness. Thus, I was able to pass with some of the highest marks of those subjects. When I started Middle school though, we were required to sign up for a club or sport. I chose to be in Judo, a fighting club for wilderness strength.
When I had time on the farm, after harvests, I'd take an Apricorn or two throw them at trees and targets made from random things. They were the approximate size of a Poke ball, being the main ingredient to make one, so I tried to practice my aim for when I could catch my own starter. By the time I gained a new belt in Judo, I was able to throw a Poke ball with about three inches of error. I was also able to beat a few of the lighter opponents in the club. I was sort of muscular from farming of berries and I also had experience in dishing a bit of punishment. Not that we exactly hit each other, but being able to throw the opponent over your shoulder was not something anyone could do.
When I turned thirteen, I was one of the older students in Judo. I helped teach the younger students while learning some of the advanced maneuvers. We constantly practiced the beginner moves to sharpen our moves, as the most basic of moves could defeat a master if used correctly. I didn't plan on staying in the class this long, but it was only a year away from the graduation. Once we reached the end of the year, I'd ask my parents. I would! Still, I knew how they react. My father still had problems around four or more Pokemon he knew. If I suddenly brought, say, a Dugtrio to close to him, he'd try and kill it.
My mother wasn't entirely against me going on an adventure, but she was concerned for my father. My father didn't want me to become like him, experience the same thing, the same trauma as him. It was understandable, but he was not me. This was something I was prepared for, using his stories and experience to teach me.
Over the year, I studied Pokemon of the surrounding areas. There weren't many strong Pokemon in the area, but Pokemon were only as strong as their trainer made them. A skilled trainer could win with difficult odds. There was a legend of a trainer in Kanto named Red who won against the Champion with a Pikachu. There were many legends of weaker Pokemon becoming great and powerful with trainers. Some might not be true, but some had to be. So, I was willing to take almost any Pokemon.
In Judo, I was able to get my Yellow belt and, though I wasn't the best, I was by far not the worst. It was my way of proving myself to both me and my parents. It was possible to survive and that I was strong. In school, my grades in Survival Studies and Pokemon Biology, as well as gym and fitness tests were above average. I was acceptable in Science and English while my other grades were rather... abysmal.
Hopefully, just maybe, my parents would see this as proof I was able to handle myself? Perhaps I could convince them to get my trainer registration or something, or if I had to, I'd find a way to raise 200 pokebucks. After all, how could my parents resist my registration when I already had a Pokemon?
But...
Who would I choose?
There were over five hundred I could choose from, but only a few species lived around here. I could choose a Starly or maybe a Budew. Both evolved into powerful Pokemon and weren't the worst to get. And a Budew would be a great way to show my training, as it would only evolve under great care. A Staraptor would make a great mode of transport as well as a powerful bird of prey.
Still, there were some other Pokemon I wanted. Pokemon who my parents would highly disagree of. Well, maybe most people would. Not many liked ghost Pokemon. Still, I liked them because of that. Even if I was involved with people, I didn't like them. People... It was simply my nature, I guess. With a ghost, no one would bother me.
Even if I wanted the fame, I knew it came at the cost of some comforts. But, once I was there, I knew I could handle it. Somehow, I knew it. This was my dream, after all.
.
With graduation right around the corner, my time to tell my parents of my dream was approaching fast. Nervous as I was, I knew this is what I had to do. There was no avoiding this. Every dream starts somewhere. This was just my first step. And I had to take it to start my journey.
At the same time, I was defying my parents wishes. I was leaving their comfortable home, their safety, for a life of combat and violence. They probably would disown me, but once I become a famous Pokemon trainer, they'd have no choice but to take me back. They couldn't just ignore their son who was know across the region.
It was sort of stressful, taking the last exams of school. Ever. These papers would be useless for a great Pokemon trainer, but the tests were still required. Day after day, the classes took tests for a week. After school, I helped harvest Sitrus, Oran, and Tamato berries. At dinner, I was unusually quiet and ran through conversations I could have with my parents about my dreams and goals.
"Jo, don't you think something is wrong with him? He's been quiet... distant for the past two weeks."
"Oh, don't you worry, Myra. These are his final exams. Without Judo, he probably just has no way to express his pent up emotions. This is the most stressful for a young man like him, you know?"
"Oh, like I don't know about it. Every month, remember?"
"Right, right..."
Then, the day before my graduation, the final test day, the worst happened. An ominous and cold wind blew from the north. Dark clouds covered the sky, making it the worst lighting to take an exam, even at noon. Luckily, it was Maths and I could care less about what grade I got. Still, with nothing to do for two hours sounding pretty boring, I drew random Pokemon around the pages. I did answer the ones I did know, but other than that, I just flunked the whole thing.
At the same time, the sky was not looking great. For a farmer like me, this was a bad sign.
By the time the test ended, it had started to rain and the down pour simply dropped buckets. The wind didn't help, constantly blowing water into your face no matter which way you turned. After a quick lunch, most ran for home. Some were scared to get their makeup wet.
Being a guy, I had no quarrels with the rain. The wind, however, was really annoying. It constantly blew my brown hair over my face. The cold and icy weather blowing down from Snowpoint chilled and soaked me to the bone.
Reaching home, I had trouble closing the door to our home. The wind made me use the muscles I'd built in Judo and training to block out the wind fighting me. After slamming the door closed, my mother came into the entry way.
"Oh, it is terrible out there. Your father is out trying to cover up the crops." She held out a clean towel and helped me remove my bag, which stuck to me and my wet clothes made it difficult to move.
"Shouldn't I go help? The crops are important to all of us. But father can't be out there by himself, can he?"
"We can't risk losing you. The weather will only get worse. This is a hurricane and we are to stay inside." A... Hurricane? We never had Hurricanes here. They only formed on the south coast. What could have caused this?
"Father can't do it alone. We'll lose everything if we don't help him! I'll-"
"No! Please!" My mother grabbed my arm and held me back from opening the door I'd just closed. "He'll be back soon. He'll be fine, but he should know a lost cause when he sees one."
"...Alright. Fine." As my mother dried off my hair and clothes, the door blasted open. In the doorframe was my father, his hair whipping around his head and he had a crazy and desperate look on his face. He rushed past me, not even seeing me in his crazy state. He was losing the biggest thing he'd ever made. His success and life was in those fields.
Jumping up, my mother chased my father down the hall. Taking the hint, I struggled to close the door again. It was a greater struggle than before, a clear sign that the weather was growing stronger.
"Calm down, Jo! It isn't worth your life! You can start over! We can make it without the crops!" I saw my father almost running from room to room, searching for something. He rummaged through cupboards, closets, and drawers.
"Not worth it? Those crops are my life! They are the only thing that keeps us in this house and keeps us fed! I can't just give up those plants! Do you want to starve and live amongst the beasts and bugs of the forest?!" He was almost shaking, using his fear of Pokemon to protect his family. Admirable as it was, it was still pointless. If he were to die, he'd leave us to starve anyways. At least, mother would. She'd never accompany me into the forest, even with her Staravia.
"But your life, Joseph! Think of your son and wife!"
"I AM!" He was almost insane, desperate to protect his business. It was everything to him, even more important than the people in his own house.
"Just calm down! If we do lose everything, we can still replant the fields and wait the half year for them to grow. We still have the Greenhouse, right? And we can wait for February to grow more. It'll all work out. Just remember you have us. Nothing bad will happen as long as you have us." Collapsing in defeat, my father sat there with his head in his hands.
"You're right..."
That night, the entire shook from the force of the winds. Gales ripped up plants from their roots and flung them at the house. Water soaked the ground, making lakes of the ground. The cold air made snow and hail drop from the sky. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder crashed and boomed in the distance. None of us slept much, but father laid on the couch against my mothers protests about his wet clothes. Morning brought with it no respite from the storm, but did allow the worst of it to pass; there wasn't much more to destroy.
We spent all day trying to keep father inside, convincing him to wait out the storm. The winds still howled and shook the house, but the winds no longer threw trees at it. Whatever trees that were left were either the strongest or the ones already buried. Still, just from looking out the window, not much was left. But the worst was when the Greenhouse finally had it.
Using a fallen tree, the winds smashed through the side of the glass building and lifted the entire structure before smashing the whole thing back down. Everything inside was lost, the windowed building in shards. That was the last straw for my father, who reached out the door against all attempts to stop him.
When he returned at nightfall, he only brought with him a few hard Apricorns and an armful of broken branches. By looking, they were mostly Oran berry branches. One even had a few unripe ones, green and hard. It was all my father could salvage of our ruined farm. That night, the storm subsided enough to be considered over. Rain still fell from the clouds overhead, but the gales no longer threatened to topple our house.
.
That didn't mean our problems were over. Far from it. By the morning, the winds dropped to a more mild gale. The rain fall slowed to a gloomy drizzle and the Hurricane Warning passed, allowing us to go outside. What we saw was worse than looking out from a window.
The fields were gone, a lake having covered the entire thing. A few toppled trees and bushes remained, but all were broken and bent. The berries we could find were frozen in the mid summer. I had to carry Herdier out to solid ground for him to relieve himself. We had to wade out with boots and still the water filled them quickly. The cold air and water made hypothermia a danger.
With the weather cleared, the graduation had been postponed until now. The other students filed in, wet and cold. In the separate changing rooms, we dressed in our Uniforms and caps. Several of the students didn't even show up, reluctant or afraid to go out. Some honestly didn't have warm enough clothes for weather like this.
Some teachers gave speeches, along with a few students. It was all very nice, but the room was empty of people and warmth. It was dark and quite a few rows were empty. Even my own parents did show up, too busy with their farm lands to show up. It was very understandable, and a few of the students gave their condolences for our luck. In reality, it was probably for the best, but I could hardly see it as such.
It was outraging that things had to go this way. My parents lived off those plants. But I also felt sad. These were lands I'd helped grow. I'd put hours and days into nurturing the new crops and keeping the old ones safe. Now, it was all gone.
Still, the ceremony passed without many interruptions and I was given my own Diploma at the end, 'qualifying me for the future,' they said. True, pieces of paper were worth something to the business world, but for me, it was almost worthless. As an award, it was alright. I was smart enough to survive until now, but being a trainer-in-progress I had no use for it.
After it all, I didn't really hang out to talk to anyone. It was more like me pushing through the crowd for the exit. Rushing home, I had my Uniform and Diploma in a waterproof bag. It might have been worthless, but I'd still worked for it. I wasn't going to just throw it away.
So, opening the door, I threw off my bag and cap of graduation. It was still cold and wet outside, but at least the rain stopped. The wind that did blow was more gentle than before. Still, the weather was bad for any farmer. I couldn't leave them now. But this was my dream. I had to tell them somehow. What would mother... father... What would they do? What would they say?
"Is that you? Are you home?" Mother came around the corner with a mop in hand. It was dirty and brown from constant work. She had a stressed look on her face.
"Yeah, where is father? Is he working on the fields, or..."
"Oh, Jo's been in and out here every ten minutes. I've only just finished mopping up the last of the mud." Going back to the kitchen, I heard splashing of the mop and I discarded my clothes as I went upstairs. In the shower, I washed off the stress of the graduation and the anger and sadness.
It was refreshing being under the flow of hot water. With my body cleaned after a shower, I dried with a towel and walked to my room. With a set of fresh clothes, I was refreshed and calm. Coming back down the stairs, the front door opened again and my father walked through. His clothes soaked, mud stuck to his pants and boots.
"Uh... Hey, Dad." I held up my hand. Trying to come up with the courage to tell him, he walked away. He hardly heard me, hardly caring about what I was talking about. Hanging my head, I tried to follow him, but he just moved erratically. He was so focused on saving what he could that he had no time for his recently graduated son. Stress and frustration was clear on his face, with lines and wrinkles across his face. He didn't even care when Herdier tried to get his attention by getting in front of him. He just went into a new room.
Clearly focused on something else, I decided I would tell mother first. She would break the news to him later...
"Mother?" I walked into the kitchen to find mother rinsing the dirtied mop. The water in the sink was already filthy, but mother was trying to get the mop clean anyways. So she was stressed as well...
"Oh, good you're here. Could you be a dear and mop up your father's mess while I get started on dinner? I have something special planned."
"Uh, sure. Just make sure you drain the sink first and wash your hands." Deciding it was the wrong time, I took the mop from her and turned on the tap and squeezed the tainted water off. I returned to the entry to clean up the brown boot marks and the trail of dirt and water. Walking backwards, Herdier thought this was a game. He leapt from side to side, nipping at the trail of clean water I left behind and the mop. No one had played with him in days, so he was full of energy.
"Herdier, please. I need to work. Stand back, alright?" Making a pitiful whining noise, Herdier retreated to the living room in defeat. He laid down at the base of the sofa, waiting for attention. Continuing to mop, I bumped into my father.
"Oh, hey. Good job." Without looking back or asking me anything, he opened the door again and stepped into the marsh that had become of our farm. Continuing to mop, I went through every room my father went through. After a time, I couldn't find any more puddles or mud. Returning to the kitchen, I saw mother cutting vegetables at three in the afternoon.
"Mom? You alright? You do know what time it is, right? I don't think it's time for dinner yet. Just, take it easy." Looking up from her work, she carried the half cut vegetables and swept them into a pot, rushed and stressed. She was busy trying to cook a stew. She was hardly conscious of the time, only of her duties.
"Don't worry, I'm sure your father will be alright with a meal about now. He hasn't eaten all day!" So... he's been working this whole time?
"So he's been like this since the moment he woke up? What has he been doing the whole time?" Giving up on the entire thing, I walked out of the kitchen. Walking into the living room, I saw Herdier lying on the sofa. When he saw me, he jumped up and got the look of excitement on his face.
"Well, I guess it's not today, huh? Maybe tomorrow, though." Patting his head, I clicked the remote and turned on the TV. Switching around the channels, I found one interesting.
"-And we believe the recent Hurricane was actually caused by an angered nest of dragons. There happened to be a camp of foolish trainers, we believe, who tried capturing a Hydreigon, but in anger the dragons retaliated with the move Hurricane. Let this be a lesson all the other trainers out there. If you are trying to capture a dangerous Pokemon, especially a Dragon, proceed with caution. These monsters could easily wipe out the entire Sinnoh region because of a foolish trainer and foolish decisions.
"In addition to that, we also found 17 bodies from the rampage these dragons are on, but it is believed that several others may have been killed. Though reports say they've retreated to the peak of Mt. Coronet, the trainers who tried to catch them have been killed. It was thanks to the Pokemon Rangers that the conditions didn't worsen further than they did." Reading the lines and looking at the pictures, I saw that the destruction affected many more towns and cities. Images showed collapsed bridges and buildings, as well as a few flooded roads and broken forests.
"Thank you, Darrel! This concluded our news report segment. Now, Patty? How's the Weather now?"
"Well, as you can see behind me..." Tuning out, I let the truth sink in. A dragon... did this? Just how powerful were they? True, there were legends of a Pokemon that, just with a flap of it's wings, a forty day storm could be brewed. But... A dragon did this? Just how powerful were they?
I heard something behind me move and I spun around to see my father there, shaking. "So it's one of them that is responsible. I... I swear I won't it happen again!"
"Dad?" Turning away from me, he walked out of the room. In the kitchen, I could hear him discussing and slandering the Pokemon of the world. Even worse was his cursing of dragons. Though I knew not how many could learn how to create a storm, I knew it had to be from a dragon. But that did not make every dragon a horrible creature, trash, or simply a mistake. They were magnificent creatures to be revered and respected. It was the trainers, foolish enough to think they could contain their power, who were at fault.
It wasn't that I was entirely passive, though. Anger and pain ran through me. How could a Pokemon do something like this to us? Didn't they know they needed us to survive? We helped them become stronger, better than they could themselves. True, we test their strengths with others. We forced them to fight and injure, sometimes kill other Pokemon or people. But it was all to make them more powerful, right?
After an early dinner, my father went to bed. He was exhausted from today's labor, wading through water and raging about his lost fame and profits. His livelihood was taken from him not once but twice by Pokemon. Once as a Trainer and twice as a Farmer. It was all the fault of the Pokemon, or maybe just fate.
.
It took three weeks for the lake to drain from our fields. Many other farms and grasslands had become flooded and each could not drain while the soil already had as much water as it could take. The mud from the water still covered the paved roads and sidewalks all the way through the town. With Help Crews, sent by the public welfare, they tore down ruined buildings and handed out food and hygiene kits. Some had lost more than us, being homeless and jobless in a few cases.
In some cases, we were the among the luckiest of the storm. Being on the outskirts, the forest protected our house from the worst of it. Houses less than 500 meters from us collapsed from the sheer power of the winds. The people left out on the streets grouped together near the center of town or in parks. We had no way of dealing with this kind of situation as nothing ever happened here. The Hurricane was the most interesting this to happen in the past decade or so. Before I was born, they say a legendary Pokemon visited the fields of flowers here. Though only glimpses were seen, many artists were hired or inspired to draw, paint, sketch, or model whatever it was they saw. Some say it was a flying Pokemon, while others say it was a type of bushy land Pokemon, similar to a mini Torterra. It was also said to be the Pokemon called Shaymin.
Still, not a single sighting had been reported since then. Many passed it off as a simple Lotad or a small Turtwig close to evolution. Several rumors had passed around saying there was a blessing in the appearance of Shaymin. And now, perhaps this blessing had been lifted and allowed all the bad they deserved to come crashing down on them. Some believed it was because many had lost faith in their Arceus or Dialga. Many churches and legend-seekers revered the Legendary Pokemon as gods. Now, they struggled to pass their beliefs onto others and grow the power of their sect.
I didn't buy any of their bull. It was useless to rely on the blessings of a Pokemon few had ever seen. I could be called something of a Cause and Effect sort of guy. These acts behind the scenes beliefs in a single Pokemon just was unreasonable. It was true that Pokemon should be respected, but not treated as Idols. Otherwise, their trainers or captors could be seen as higher beings. Maybe it was true they did possess a higher caliber of power, but it did not make them rulers of time, space, and the universe. For that, they'd have to be immortal.
Even though the water was gone from the surface, the soil was still unworkable. The weather was already becoming colder with the change of seasons. Summer was cut short, with the Hurricane affecting the weather patterns, and trees growing brighter. Fall was around the corner, meaning any crops planted now would freeze and die long before they were strong enough.
My family was used to a more comfortable way of life. The workers that tended the crops were laid off, cutting deep into our savings. Without any way to plant more, the money lost was more than we could handle. With the last of our money, my father gave up on the fields. We moved into a new house closer to town, selling our lands back to the Floaroma Province. But this change didn't solve our problems either.
We still had no more income. Without cash flow, the quality of our meals and lifestyle dropped. We went from eating whatever my mother could come up with or restaurants to eating many more breads and vegetables.
As winter came, we had to use our heater more and more. With the cost of gas and fuel still higher than usual, the amount of cash we had was diminished once again. Taking it badly, my father turned to alcohol to solve his problems. With both the cost of booze and gas together, our funds dropped even further.
With my own skills, I was expected to already be a trainer or be enrolled in some college. However, believing that I was making the right choice, I decided to stay with my family. It would be heartless to leave now. But perhaps I could help save money if I did leave?
Instead, I got a part time job. I worked in the local grocery mart. I helped sort products from storage and carried heavy boxes as well. It was all I was really skilled enough to do, seeing as I failed Math to be a cashier. The salary wasn't great, but it did pay for my father's drinks and some of the other costs. Though I could have used the money for myself, it was used the moment I got it, transferred straight to my parents' account. Even if I wanted to spend it, I knew I couldn't.
.
Winter left us all a bit shaken and stressed, and my father drunk. He never talked at dinner anymore and usually just sat in front of the television with a bottle in his hand. By morning, he was found passed out somewhere with an empty bottle.
My job also got better, as I was quickly given a raise. It was more in pity than actual promotion. The manager quickly noticed my lack of funds, even with the pay currently being given. After an interrogation, I was given a small portion given to myself rather than put into the bank.
It really wasn't much, a fraction of what I earned, but it was more than enough. By the time I turned fifteen in Spring, I had over one thousand four hundred Pokedollars in my wallet. However, it was rather quickly that I had to withdraw from the job. As it was Spring, it was planting season. Using some of the money in the bank, my father decided to purchase a few species of Apricorn saplings, as well as a few Pecha and Sitrus berry bushes.
My father put everything into the grounds near our house, carefully watering the plants and never let a single blade of grass come up. His drinking problem hadn't evaporated, but it held less of a hold than we thought. He quickly sobered up when it came to his crops.
Tilling was simple for a Diglett or Dugtrio, but my father was determined to do it alone. Of course, I helped with what I could. While he was passed out drunk, I cared for the plants by spreading fertilizers and keeping Weedle away. My mother also trimmed the branches when needed to, but mostly cared for Father when he was drunk. Using her Buizel's store of water, she also watered what my father couldn't. It was obvious she loved her Pokemon, having no problem commanding them.
By the time the warm ending of Spring came, the budding flowers came out and showed signs of bearing unripened Pecha berries. The Sitrus bushes, however well tended, would bear fruit by the end of Summer. The Apricorns would be ready faster, some already showing the small and unripened fruits.
Taking great care, we picked the fragile Pecha berries. It wasn't a berry we were used to growing, but the bushes were cheaper than most others as well as a local specialty. However, due to their hollow innards, the berry was often crushed before coming loose from the bush. Still, they were very useful for trainers passing through before they entered the forest.
As the Apricorns developed, I began to feel distracted. Already unhappy with how things were going, despite the recovering business, I decided now was the time. It had been an entire year of work and now I was ready. But, what could I do? How would I ask my parents to pay for a dream they feared?
I took to taking walks near the forest with Herdier. It was useful for clearing my head, but it also gave me a chance to scout out for Pokemon. Even if I didn't have any way of capturing one, I still wanted to find the perfect partner.
Of course, I knew most of what I could find. I saw several Budew and Buizel, but there was the Starly and Pidgey that flew about. In town, a few flocks of Pidove could be found. I also saw Burmy and Wurmple, as well as a few Weedle and Caterpie. Most were maturing towards evolution as they'd hatched in spring. I'd already seen enough of them around our plants to know I didn't want one.
It was uneventful today. Not many Pokemon were about and Herdier was always racing ahead to bark at the Pachirisu that threw their Lum berries at him. Though it was cute for them to throw berries, when they used their electric sacs in their cheeks... Ouch.
We walked further today, Herdier always running further ahead. Then, taking a sudden turn, Herdier raced into the forest. Knowing I wasn't supposed to go inside, I still ran after our dog. With the wreckage of plants and bushes around, I had little trouble finding where he went.
After running until my lungs hurt and stitches in my sides, I came to a cave. Herdier was at the mouth, growling at something inside.
"What is it, boy? You find something?" Looking to where Herdier was growling, I saw movement amongst the shadows. "Is that... a Pokemon?" Starting to bark, the movement started to recede.
However, in a sudden rush, the Pokemon in the cave rushed out and tackled Herdier. Herdier was pushed off his feet and landed a few feet back.
"Herdier! Are you alright?" Rolling over onto his feet, Herdier stood up and started growling again. With a snap of his jaws and a leap forward, the faithful dog latched onto the new Pokemon. Now restrained, I got a good look at it. It was a quadruped, with dark fur covering it's front torso, neck, and face. I also noticed several bruises on it's sides. It was a Deino.
Though I didn't know much about them, I knew Deino were strong. Still, this one looked small and injured. Could Herdier fight it? Could I capture it? Maybe... Just maybe this one would be the one?
Calling to my dog, I gave it commands to fight for the first time. "Herdier, body slam it! Be careful!" Using his larger size, Herdier tackled the Deino by jumping on it. But the Deino simply pushed the larger dog off it's back, biting him in the process. "Herdier!"
Retaliating, Herdier rammed his head into the Deino's chest. With the force of the impact, the Deino was pushed onto it's back. With a barring of it's teeth, ice flakes started to form in it's mouth. Dropping the icy fangs into the Deino's side, it screamed in a high-pitched cry. A fear washed over me with the screech, causing me to back up. Tripping, I ended up on my butt.
Turning it's head towards me, the Deino got back up, this time towards me. It was going off sounds then. Looking at it's fur, I realized it couldn't see. Suddenly, I saw a blue and red ball of energy forming in it's maw. And it was aimed at me.
Recovering from his head on attack, Herdier bit into the smaller Deino. Yelping, the attack was launched into a nearby tree. Spinning around, the Deino bit back. Leaping back, the fangs of the little cave dweller missed Herdier by centimeters. Ramming into the Deino again, Herdier was met with a bowed head. Crashing together, both staggered away from the hit.
It was Deino that recovered first, building another ball of energy in it's mouth. With Herdier unable to stand correctly, the Deino had an easy time aiming the attack. In a bright explosion, I saw Herdier hit with the ball of energy. "Herdier," I called to it. Looking back at the Deino, I saw it fleeing back into the cave. So it wasn't so injured after all.
My ears ringing from the explosion, I rushed to my dog. He was lying on the grass next to a tree not far from the blast. His fur was charred in places and he was unconscious. Groaning, I remembered how far away from town I really was. Picking up my valiant Pokemon and struggled as I walked away from the forest and cave. Not even having a Poke ball on me, I realized it was pointless anyways.
.
My parents were outraged as a Gyarados when I got home. I could hardly explain what happened while they were shouting at me.
"I can't believe how irresponsible you were, taking our pet into a fight! You know he isn't fit for that! What would you have done if he, or worse you, were killed?!" My mother dragged me to the Pokemon Center, Herdier in his Poke ball. "I mean, I know those Pachirisu are tricky, but I never expected them to be this powerful..."
Checking the display built into the Poke ball, I saw Herdier at 12% health. It also showed he had a broken foreleg. Still, I remember the battle hazily. It was scary, but I remember Herdier protecting me, hardly any commands given. He knew what he was doing, what I wanted to do.
"You do know the dangers of Pokemon Battling, right?" Mother looked at me, a worried look on her face. She tried masking it with anger, but I did see it. "...Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes, but Mom-"
"I don't want to hear it. We're here anyways." Looking up, I saw the red sign above the hospital. A large spinning Poke ball announced the Pokemon center. Walking through the sliding glass door, I saw a male nurse behind the counter. With the recent disputes about female-only positions, the long line of Nurse Joy girls was broken by Nurse Johns and/or Nurse Kuros.
"Hello, Miss? What can I do for you? My name is Nurse Kuro, so don't hesitate to ask!" The young man behind the counter had a wide smile, showing his experience.
"Yes, our Herdier was injured in battle. Could you heal him back to full health?"
"Sure thing! Just present your Pokemon and your Trainer license?" Putting the Poke ball on the counter, Nurse Kuro waited for us to present any identification. "It seems you don't have a trainer's license. I'm afraid the fee of healing your Pokemon will be 50 Poke dollars. We will have your Pokemon healed right up." Taking to Poke ball, Nurse Kuro started to walk away. Suddenly remembering something, Nurse Kuro spun around. "Oh, and your Pokemon should be ready tonight, but you can come back tomorrow if that suits you."
"Thank you very much, Nurse Kuro. We'll be by after dinner, so around eight or nine. Is that alright?"
"Sure. But remember; Free healthcare if you have a Trainer License. So, perhaps your son there could get one next time, so you don't have to pay for his expenses?" With a twitch of her smile, she nodded before pushing me towards the exit.
"Mom, I have to tell you something. It's important." We walked through the glass doors and out into the sunlight again. As the door closed, she turned to me but still kept walking.
"What is it?" Inside, I felt she knew what I was about to say.
"I... I want to become a Pokemon trainer. I don't want to be mean or rude, or even sound like I'm ignorant. But I really want to be a trainer. I've researched them all my life, I've practiced, and I know what to do in the wild. I-" Her hand stopped me from proceeding.
"I've known for a while. It's hard to, you know, miss all your books. But I thought you'd give it up. JoJo won't accept this, I'm sure you're aware. But... I can't help it. I want you to stay here." With a look of sadness crossed her face, as well as my own. Anger was building, and I was about to open my mouth when she asked me a question.
"Do you really want to do this?" I was shocked almost speechless.
"Y-yeah. I really do. I know the rules of becoming a trainer, the test, even the Pokemon I want to catch."
"Aright. I guess we'll have to do something about that, won't we? C'mon. Let's go to the PokeMart." Swirls of emotions, happiness and shock, fear and anticipation, even surprise, flooded my head. I wasn't sure what made my mother take my side so easily, but I had a feeling it had something to do with her own trainer days.
When we arrived at the PokeMart, I quickly and easily recognized the blue roof and signs. It also helped that 'PokeMart' was written on the building. Walking through the door, I saw shelves of Pokemon-related goods. Potions, Poke balls, and things I didn't recognize. I'd never been able to actually appreciate the stock of items displayed before me.
"Now, you'll need a few Poke balls and perhaps a few Potions?" Grabbing what she saw, she mumbled under her breath about how my father would react. I looked at the marble-sized Poke balls, ten times smaller than the Apricorns they were made from. I wondered how they were made that small when my mother grabbed my arm. She dragged me out of the store before I demanded everything they had.
"Okay. Here are your supplies. Two potions, four Poke balls, and Chansey Egg Extract. Just in case you get hurt yourself. Please... don't tell your father, okay? And take Staravia, too. When you find which Pokemon you want, use the Poke balls and Staravia to catch it, alright?" Nodding, I put the supplies into my pockets. Almost in reverence, I was given a worn Poke ball, a few scrapes over it's waxy finish. Promising to keep it, and Staravia safe, I tucked it inside my pocket as well. Together, we walked back home as the sun crept towards the horizon.
.
When we got home, father lectured me on the dangers of Pokemon. He was practically shouting at me until dinner was ready and I went up to my room to clean up; I was still wearing the clothes I wore into the forest. While I was in my room, I stashed the supplies under my bed. It was something I couldn't let father see, after all.
As I walked into the Dining room, I saw we had Pidgey and rice for dinner. It was probably the most expensive thing we had since my birthday. What occasion was it?
"And now, Mr. Birthday man? What do you wish for?" Looking at my father, I remember it was his birthday, July 12th. How could I have forgotten?
"I wish for us all to be safe and happy. I don't know what I would do without you two in my life. I mean, after my sister and my own Pokemon..." He hung his head as he started to remember the past. Glancing at the bottle near him, I expected him to take a swig of it. I preemptively wrinkled my nose at the sight of the alcohol.
"Now, now. Jo, you know what happened was an accident. That won't happen to any of us as long as you remember who you are. Stay in the Present and plan for the Future. To another, a better year." Raising her glass, mother toasted my father's birthday.
Raising my own glass, I repeated the last part of the toast. I hoped it would be a better year, for them and for me. My father smiled at the toast and repeated the line. Then we drained our glasses and dug into the meal. We told stories of the better parts of the past and also of the future of the farm, seeing as it was on the rise again.
None of us mentioned the horrible things, the worst of our lives, but instead decided to thank Arceus for our good luck. Being half-hearted and uninterested in the alcohol, I decided to go upstairs.
"Where're you goin'?" My father had a drunken slur and a goofy smile.
"I'm, uh, a bit tired. It is getting late, you know?"
"Oh, right," My mother said. "Remember, it's getting to be nine." Remembering Herdier, we had said we would be back around eight or nine. Standing up from the table, mother grabbed her purse from the entrance. Nodding, I also went to the front to put on my shoes.
"Wha's goin' on?"
"Don't worry. I just have a... an appointment." It was hard to lie to him, even if he was drunk. Still I think him being in this state was the only reason I was allowed to leave. I grabbed my hoodie.
"Don' stay out too long. 'Kay? Be a good kiddy."
"Right. Thanks, Dad. Happy Birthday." I turned to mother, who handed me a fifty bill. Smiling at her, I mouth 'Thank you' to her before heading out into the darkness.
.
Finding my way through the darkened town was easy. It was at night that made me feel alive. True, I had a fear at what could be lurking in the dark, but it didn't stop me from being unhappy for what I had. The freedom to go on an adventure!
Walking through the sliding doors, I saw a new Nurse at the front desk. Her young face looked to hardly be older than my own, but she also looked calm. Too calm, because she was sleeping on the desk.
"Um, excuse me, Nurse Joy?" I poked the girl in the arm. With a shout, she smacked me in the face as she stood up.
"I'm terribly sorry, Sir! I didn't mean to, Sir! Forgive me!" Her small voice made her seem too inexperienced at this job, easily telling me she was new.
"It's fine," I replied, rubbing my face. I could feel the big red mark forming on my cheek.
"Oh, are you alright? I'm terribly sorry. I just have been recently put on the night shift, so I'm not really adjusted to staying up every night..." She looked around. Seeing as I was the only one with her, she softened her sharp posture and sighed in relief. "So... What can I do for you, Mr..."
"I'm here to pick up a Herdier?"
"Oh, okay. Let me see..." Looking at her monitor, she looked close to dozing off again. She typed in a few things and rubbed her eyes. "Ahh. I think I found it. But you aren't a Mrs. Lorano."
"No, I'm her son. She, uh, sent me to pick him up."
"Right, well I can't give you another person's Pokemon without some sort of proof. Sorry kid."
"Wait! I still have a student ID." Pulling out my wallet, I showed the girl my name.
"Okay, I think this should do. I hope you don't get me in trouble." Going into the back, the girl retrieved a Pokeball and handed it to me. "Wait, you don't happen to have a Trainer ID or License, do you?"
"Um, not yet. Sorry, but here is the fifty Poke dollars." Pulling out the money, she stopped me.
"I can tell you're a new trainer. I know what it's like to start out. If you keep it a secret between us, I'll give you this one time for free." She winked, but I still turned out my pockets.
"Well, I know you're trying to be nice, but could I save that favor for later?" Raising her eyebrow, she seemed to understand.
"Hmm... I mean, I do have a boyfriend, so I don't know if I could do that-"
"That isn't what I meant! I'm just planning to catch a Pokemon of my own, so I want to get the treatment free next time..." With a laugh, she handed over Herdier, who I released next to me. With a playful bark, he started to lick my hand. I put the fifty on the counter and was about to leave when a hand caught my shoulder.
"Wait! Take this. When I'm on duty, I'll give you that favor. If I'm not, call me on this number and I'll take care of it." Smiling, she yawned and rubbed her eye. She looked cute... Remembering she had a guy already, I settled for thanking her and called to Herdier. I tried to contain it as long as I could, but I only made it to the corner before shouting my success!
.
The next day, I spent it in front of the wiki page for Pokemon. Looking at stuff like the test requirements, I decided I had it in the bag. Except for the last thing. Luckily, I knew I would solve the problem soon. The requirement was this;
"The Trainer must demonstrate aptitude in handling his/her captured Pokemon. Display must be with own Pokemon."
I was already set on catching that Deino, so soon I would have the second half covered. The former part, however, would prove difficult. While reading about it, I found out what kind of Pokemon I was dealing with. Though I knew what a Deino looked like, I was clueless what it was.
I was trying to catch a Dragon.
I remember the Hurricane from a year ago, and what caused it. It was as far as I could go with accepting the beast the was in that cave. Any further, I'd have given up on the Deino entirely. Still, their power was enticing. A dragon could easily wipe Mt. Coronet off the continent, yet they controlled it enough that it still stands.
It was until my mother brought me dinner that I read about Pokemon, tests, dragons, and food. As such, I found out my skills would have to extend to hunting as Deino were carnivores. Even if Herdier was as well, we had specialized food for him. The other Pokemon found their food amongst the wilderness.
With only Poke balls, I knew there was a chance for the Deino to escape. Mother had agreed to lend me Staravia, but even then, there was that attack it got Herdier with... I couldn't risk Staravia like I had with my dog. At least the Deino couldn't leave the ground for long...
Once I was given food, I had to quickly switch to a separate tab, keeping mother from knowing what I was planning. She still thought it was Pachirisu that caused the damage to Herdier. What other Pokemon around here could cause burns like those? If she knew what caused it, she would confiscate the Poke balls she gave me.
After being dragged downstairs to wash my dishes, I was stopped by my father.
"Hey, kid. How's it going? You've been upstairs all day. Are you alright?" He was sitting in the Parlor, and for once, he was without his bottle.
"Uh, yeah. I'm fine. I was just studying."
"Ah! That's a good kid! At least you know what's best for you. Well, I guess I won't stop you, but just keep in mind that you could hurt yourself if you try too hard."
"Thanks, Dad." Heading back upstairs, I had an idea for what to 'study'. Once I became an official trainer, I'd need a PokeDex as well as a few other wilderness survival items. Signing back into the computer, I searched up the prices for my items. What I found made my pockets hurt.
Looking at the PokeDex, I saw the prices were ranging from 100 to 300 Poke dollars. With the Pokemon trainer exam costing 200 Poke dollars, I did not have to much to spare. And don't even get started on the survival gear. A tent would be insane, but a weapon would cost more. It would be a while before I would be able afford them.
Getting tired, I found the time to be past ten. I'd been researching for almost three hours... Rubbing my eyes, I stumbled out of my room and into the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, I sleepily walked to my bed. It took only a few minutes for me to fall asleep...
. . .
The world was dark and grey, depressing and dull.
So many people were crying and sad.
Then, in the distance, a bright ball of light rose above the horizon. As the glow faded, a flying beast flew over the town. As it flew back towards the opposite horizon, the outline of a human rider could be seen.
As the flying creature reached the line between dawn and dusk, a flash issued from the horizon. The brightness spread from the sky to the ground, bringing light to the people and lifting their mood. It was until the light reached my perspective that the dream ended, engulfing my vision in light...
. . .
I opened my eyes to the sun peeking through the window and into my eyes. Rubbing my eyes, I rolled out of bed. Remembering what I researched, I grabbed my bag from underneath my bed. I'd already put the Poke balls and medicine inside yesterday, prepared to go out any day.
Changing my clothes from yesterday, I shouldered the bag and went down stairs. Calling for Herdier, I opened the front door and stepped through. Rather than being a normal human, I jumped with Herdier down the steps to our door and raced with him towards the forest.
It was about the time I reached the edge of town that I realized I should have eaten. It might have been just inside the forest, but I was hungry. Still, I refused to go back unless I had a filled Poke ball or two. And one of them better be a Deino.
Following the path I took days before, I noticed Herdier start to get anxious. He remembered the fight that left him defeated and injured. I stopped and knelt down in front of him.
"Don't worry, Bud. We won't lose that easily this time. Besides, we have Staravia with us." I held up the Poke ball my mother gave to me. In response, Herdier licked my face and tackled me. Laughing, I wrestled with Herdier for a few minutes before getting up. Right. First priority would be capturing that Deino. Apologizing to Herdier, we set off again down the path again.
As we got nearer to the turn, Herdier started sniffing the air. I laid a hand on his dark fur, cautious of his burned side. Looking side to side, I was trying to see what my friend could smell. With a bark, Herdier bounded into the forest again. This time, I didn't hesitate, but followed with certain faith that my loyal dog would lead me to my future partner.
It was difficult to follow Herdier, who's smaller body didn't have to deal with sharp branches or small Joltik webs. I could tell we were going the most difficult path, but if Herdier already smelled the Deino, we were bound to be close. Pushing past a branch, I let it snap back behind me. With a bark ahead, I could tell we'd arrived.
As I burst into the clearing, I was met with Herdier's tackle as a ball of dragon energy flew over my head and smash over a tree, lighting it ablaze. With a pat on Herdier's head, I looked to the Deino standing their. The blind dragon stood there, right at the mouth of the cavern. We'd found you.
Since neither of us moved, the Deino could not see us. Rather, couldn't sense us as it was blind. Sneaking a hand into my pocket, I removed the used Poke ball given to me by mother. Pressing the button, Staravia was released into the air.
With a cry, the bird took to soaring around the clearing. With the appearance of a third enemy, the Deino retreated slightly. In a defensive manner, the Deino let out a scream, sounding like a high-pitched shriek. A ripple of fear coursed through me as I heard it.
"Staravia! Aerial Ace! Attack the Deino and stay away from it." With a roll of the eyes, the bird dove on the Dragon before raking it's claws across it. The force of the attack was much more powerful than the blind Deino, knocking it to the side. Luckily, the dragon had a one track mind. With the Staravia calling the most attention through sound and damage, the Deino focused solely on it.
Using the opening, I withdrew one of the four Poke balls. Once marble-sized, I expanded it to be the size of a ripe Apricorn and activated it. Throwing with skill, the ball hit the Deino while his head was turned. Exploding into a flash of red and white, the Pokemon was digitized and pulled inside.
However, as soon as the ball hit the ground, it split apart, revealing an angered Deino. With a growling noise, the Deino focused on reading our movements. With Staravia in the air and flapping it's wings, it somewhat masked our positions, but obviously revealed Staravia.
Using it to it's advantage, the Deino spun around and started charging up another Dragon blast. "Staravia!" As the ranged attack was released, Staravia dove towards the dark dragon. With aerial superiority, Staravia had no problem dodging the attack. In a counter attack, the bird dug it's claws into the back of the dragon. With powerful strokes of it's wings, Staravia lifted the Deino of the forest floor and brought it into a bird's domain.
With two sets of claws in it's back and digging sharply into it, Deino had no problem knowing where to find Staravia. Turning it's head, the dragon bit into the bird. In reaction, Staravia dropped Deino the ten feet they'd climbed, thanks to Deino's weight.
Crashing back to earth, Deino was helpless as it fell. In it's own panic, it managed to spin around to land directly on it's rear legs and land in relative safety. It would suck for your starter to die before you caught it. As Staravia made another pass, a wave of leaves from the ground and surrounding trees followed, crashing into Deino shortly after pulling up. With multiple cuts, Deino struggled to rise and showing signs of true danger and defeat.
Deciding it was time, I threw my second Poke ball at it. With another flash of light, the Poke ball swallowed the Deino. It fell to the ground and a red ring could be shown around the button in the center. As I watched, it slowly turned to green. About halfway through the circle, the ball split apart again and I had to hold Herdier back before it killed the Dragon.
The same could not be said about Staravia. Starting another dive, I saw as it preformed another Aerial Ace attack. Trying to dodge, Deino leapt right in front of Staravia, tripping it as it flew into Deino. Landing in a heap, I saw the Deino swivel towards the fallen bird.
"Staravia! C'mon, get up! We aren't done yet!" I looked in horror as, at point blank, the Deino was charging up another ball of draconic power. Without holding him back, Herdier raced forward and tackled the Deino, half a second before the blast caught him in the leg. It was only a glancing blow, but I saw the force of the blast bend the limb in an unnatural way. Luckily, he and Staravia were still alive.
Using everything left in him, Herdier summoned up flakes and crystals of ice and allowed them to cover his barred teeth. Sinking a chomp into the dragon, I saw Deino try to pull back. However, my pet was determined to hold on until it was captured. Even without the use of it's back leg, he still struggled to help me. Staravia, who lay unconscious on the ground, was hardly of use.
"Keep him held there, Herdier! I'll catch him quickly." Pulling out my third Poke ball, I knew what would happen if I messed this up. Even though I planned to catch a second Pokemon, I would still use my final and fourth Poke ball if it came to it. Trusting my arm, I threw the ball at the Deino.
Right before the ball hit, sensing it, the Deino ducked away from the ball. It sailed past him and rolled into the forest. I didn't see where it went, meaning I'd never find it. Cursing myself, I resorted to my final ball. Pulling it out of my bag, I pressed the button and felt the smooth and waxy ball expand in my hand.
"Herdier, use another Ice bite! Seems he's got enough energy to keep fighting." Hearing me issuing commands to another Pokemon, Staravia magically recovered. With vengeful spite, as well as a bent wing, Staravia hopped over to the Deino. With such close range, the black bird had a hard time missing. Pulling back it's head, Staravia jabbed it's beak into the dragon. Then again and again until Staravia became overcome with the pain and stumbled back. Herdier used that time to release the Deino long enough to resummon the ice and chill before sinking his teeth into the furry hide of the dragon's shoulder.
With a pool of blood surrounding the Deino, I walked closer before throwing my last Poke ball at the Deino. It disappeared in a flash of red and white, the two Pokemon and myself standing around the ball. If this failed, I knew that I'd have to find the lost Poke ball in the bushes before I caught it. And before it died to it's wounds. Slowly, as the red was replaced by green, we watched in anticipation. Prepared to jump into the woods to search, I stood at the ready. Then, the ring of green was complete and then disappeared entirely.
Well, that seems like a great place to stop, huh? I swear, I'm almost afraid every time I leave my story, it'll be wiped by the time I come back. So, next chapter, MC will get to see whether caught the Deino or not.
Sorry for any mistakes, as it is past midnight.
But, since I'm tired, LowePlays signing out.